Reinforced shock absorbers for Fiat Ducato motorhomes

Fiat Ducato drivers complain that even on new vehicles, the front of their car sits lower than the rear. This isn’t just a visual issue. The ‘sagging’ of the front axle also means there is insufficient suspension travel. This, in turn, leads to a rumbling noise and the sensation of the front end bottoming out.

Many complain about unstable handling and a body that rolls – particularly in alcove-style vehicles and those with a long rear overhang. This can be a problem, especially when cornering or driving through roundabouts. The vehicle feels spongy, and the steering often requires constant readjustment. Impacts are transmitted to the bodywork and not properly absorbed. Susceptibility to crosswinds is also a major issue. Added to this is the fact that on many Ducatos, the chassis is simply worn out, as this vehicle has been on the market as the 280 model since 1982 and many users are still driving with the original shock absorbers. Worn shock absorbers lead to wear on other chassis components.

This suggests that your motorhome’s shock absorbers are too weak or even faulty. Campervans are usually based on standard light commercial vehicles. The original shock absorbers on a Fiat Ducato van are usually not up to the diverse demands of motorhomes, as they do not take into account the significantly altered usage and the fact that motorhomes almost always operate at their weight limit. The standard chassis is often not designed to withstand this constant load:

• A completely different vehicle height and width,
• a long rear overhang,
• additional tanks (moving load),
• a motorcycle bridge at the rear (shifted centre of gravity) or
• Load on the roof (raised centre of gravity).

Failing to adjust the dampers to these new requirements is negligent.

Marquart offers suspension components for the Fiat Ducato to suit every need. Stiffer and firmer shock absorbers for the rear axle, and firmer yet comfort-oriented struts for the front axle. What’s more, not only do we offer different characteristics in the rebound and compression stages for the dampers, but we also supply struts with springs tailored to your requirements. We stock these in various combinations of spring rate and height. You decide how comfortable or sporty the handling of your Fiat Ducato will be. We ensure that your vehicle drives safely.

• Greater stability in crosswinds and when crossing bridges,
• Improved handling in stormy weather and gusts,
• Stability on winding roads; no more body roll or being pushed out of bends,
• Excellent handling in roundabouts,
• Swaying, bouncing and spongy steering are a thing of the past.

We are often asked by Fiat Ducato owners: “What can I do to improve the handling of my motorhome? What are the benefits of air suspension for my Ducato?”

Air suspension is particularly useful if you need to raise the vehicle’s height or if you want to compensate for slight unevenness in the ground at your parking spot. This applies especially to vehicles with a long rear overhang (from the centre of the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle). For example, if you frequently use ferries or drive on steep ramps. An air spring can also be beneficial if the vehicle is sensitive to wind. However, an air suspension system only ever works vertically.

However, it is primarily the horizontal forces (lateral roll and sway, as well as all pitching and rocking movements) that are critical to handling. To significantly improve a vehicle’s handling, fast-acting shock absorbers are the first choice. As soon as the body moves out of the horizontal position, it must be held in place by a strong yet finely tuned rebound damping. The compression stage of our dampers allows for rapid compression without letting the cab ‘bottom out’.

Marquart shock absorbers, with perfectly matched rebound and compression settings for the front and rear axles, keep the vehicle safely on track even in tricky situations. No matter what bodywork you’re driving – whether it’s a Hymer, Dethelffs or another make – our chassis optimisation will make your Fiat Ducato’s handling significantly more composed and safer.

Marion O. from Calden

In an interview with Reisemobil International, Christian Marquart explains the importance of suitable shock absorbers for the handling of motorhomes.

For the Fiat Ducato 250 (from 2006 onwards), we can carry out almost any suspension upgrade. This includes raising the front and rear, increasing the load capacity, or fitting air suspension. And, of course, reinforced Marquart shock absorbers and struts. There are some restrictions with Alko chassis. We are happy to cater to your requirements in finding the perfect chassis optimisation for your needs. The result will be, for example, a more comfortable set-up, better directional stability, increased ground clearance and a level vehicle alignment.

Click on the testimonials from our satisfied customers below to see how we can optimise the suspension of your Fiat Ducato. Send us an enquiry!

Tip!

The chassis of the Fiat Ducato 250 (on the market since 2006) is also used, in an identical configuration, in the Citroën Jumper II, Peugeot Boxer II, Opel Movano (from 2021) and Toyota Proace (from November 2023).

The chassis of the Fiat Ducato 230 (on the market since 1994) is also used, in an identical configuration, in the Citroën Jumper I and Peugeot Boxer I.

The chassis of the Fiat Ducato 280 (on the market since 1982) is also used, in an identical form, in the Alfa Romeo AR6, Citroën C25, Peugeot J5 and Talbot Express.